Crib.



jatentcd Feb. L i919.

2 SHEETS--SHEE[ l\ CRIB.

A'. F. BENT.

APPLICATION FILED IULYIivlSH I. 1,293,001.

A. F. BENT.

CRIB.

APPLICATION FILED lULY I9, l9l7.

Patented Feb. 4, 191%.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2K nu neun mns en. mmuma., ummm UNITED sra'rns PATENT ernten.

ARTHUR F. BENT, OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNOR T0 G. W. BENT CO.,

i OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

CRIB.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

Application led July 19, 1917. Serial No. 181,540.

To all whom it may concern.'

Beit known that I, ARTHUR F. BENT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Swampscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Cribs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention relates to metallic cribs for children and has for its object to provide a strong yet light crib, which is provided with a side frame capable of being raised and lowered with relation to the mattress-supporting frame and also capable of being folded over upon the mattress-supporting frame, whereby the crib is especially adapted for use in small or narrow quarters as will be described. The invention further has 'for its object to provide the crib with a supporting device of novel construction, which is employed to support the vertically movable side frame.

The metal crib is also provided with novel structural features, which permit the crib to be folded up rinto small or compact form and which render the crib rm and substantial when in use, as will be described.

These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofl a metal crib embodying this invention.

Fig. 2, a like elevation of a portion of the crib showing the movable side in its lowered position.

Fig. 3, a plan View of the crib shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, a plan view ofthe crib in its folded up condition.

Fig. 5, an enlarged elevation and transverse vertical section. of the crib in .its folded up condition, and

Fig. 6, a. detail of the supporting device for the movable side frame, to be referredto.

Referring to the drawing, a, b, represent thel head and foot'frames; o, d, the side frames, and e the mattress-supporting frame of a'metal crib embodying this invention.

The head frame a is composed of two members 10, 12', (see Fig. 3), which are con-4 nected by suitable hinges or pivots 13, and the foot frame b lis-composed of like members 1.4, 15, connected together by like hinges or pivots 16. Themembers 10, 14, may be considered as stationary and the members l2, 15, as movable and capable of being turned toward each other into a position sub. stantia'lly at right angles to the members 10, 14. (see Fig. 4), when the crib is not in use.

The stationary members 10, 14, are connected by the rear side member c, which may 'and preferably will be rigidly attached to said stationary head and foot members 10, 14, to thereby obtain greater stiffness yand strength.

The side member d, which may designate the front side member, is connected with the inattress-supporting frame e in such manner as to be capable of bodily movement vertically with relation to said mattress-supporting trame and also capable of pivotal movement with relation thereto, so that when the crib is in its operative position, the front side member d `may be extended above the mattress-supporting frame to close the crib at its frontsidc. as shown in Fig. 1, orit may be dropped or lowered so as to leave the front side of the crib practically open as shown in Fig. 2, so as to give convenient access to a child in the crib, and when the crib is in its inoperative condition, the side member is folded over upon the mattress-supporting frame and is capable of being moved with the latter into a substantially vertical position substantially parallel with the rear or stationary side member, as shown in Figs. it and The front side member 0l also cooperates with the head and foot frames to be guided-thereby in its vertical movement and is capable of detachment therefrom to leave it free to be folded over upon the mattresssupporting frame.

ln thc present instance, the movable side member d is composed of top and bottom cross bars 20, 21, and vertical rods 22 connected therewith. It is pivotally connected to brackets 23 attached to the mattress-supporting frame e near the opposite ends thereof (seeFig, l), which is effected by pivot rods 24 mounted to turn in the brackets 23 and providedwith eyes 25, through which the endmost vertical rods 22 are extended and are capable of sliding therethrough lto permit the side frame d to be moved in a vertical path from its raised position shown in Fig. 1, into its lowered position shown in Fig. 2. Provision is made for-guidingthe side frame d in its vertical movement, which is effected as herein shown by providing the top cross bar 20 with eyebolts 27, which engage stationary guide rods 28 attache-d to athe head and foot frames, said eye-bolts being provided with slots or openings 29 of less width than the diameter of the guide rods 28, (see Fig. 3), and which coperate :with reduced portions 30 of theupper ends '3101 the rods 28 (see Figs. l and 3) to permit the eye-bolts'27 to be 'disengaged from the guide rods, when it is desired to turn the side `frame d Von its pivots 24 and fold it over upon the fmattress-supporting frame c. The guide rods 28 may be provided at their lower ends with rubber or other cushions or bumpers 32 to engage the eye-bolts 27 'when the side frames lowered into the position shown in' Fig. 2.

It will be observed, Athat 'when 'the side frame d is in itsraised position, it is locked against turning bythe engagement of the upper end of the said side frame with the headand foot frames through the eye-bolts 27 and rods 28.

Provision is made for locking the side frame d in Vitsr elevated position,'so as to prevent its being lowered by a child in the crib pressing downl upon or shaking vthe side frame.

In the present instance, I have shown one construction-of locking device which maybe preferred by me v'and which consists-oi a catch dog or lever 33 (see Figs. 1 and 6) which is pivotedat its upper end at 34 to a bracketv or upright 35attached to the mattress-supporting frame, `preferably near thc longitudinal center of the latter.

The lever 33 is provided on its inner side near its upper end with a recess 36, whose bottom wall 37 forms a catch which is designed to be engaged with the bottom crossI bar or rod 21 of the movable side frame fl.

The lower end of the lever or dog 33 provided Awith a downwardly and outwardly inclined inneredge or surface 38, which cooperates with the cross lrod 21 of the side frame (Z when the latter is lifted from its lowered lposition shown in Fig 2 into its operative or elevated position shown in Fig. Lsaid cross rod'acting on the inclined sui1` face 38 to automatically move the catch dogor lever outwardly until the cross rod 21 is lifted above-theupper end of theinclined surface'38, whereupon "gravity acts on the lever or-dog`33 lto swing it in `toward the mattress-supporting frame 'and ibring the bottom wall 37 of the recess 36 undei` the cross rod 21 and into position to be engaged with said cross rod when the side frame is released.

By reference to Fig', it will be seen that the gravity-acting catch dog'or llever serves tov support ythe kmovable side framed` in. its

tighter the catch dog or lever holds, because downward pressure on the side frame causes the catch dog or lever to move in toward the mattress supporting frame ratherthan awayA from it. The-inclined inner surfacek of the catch dog or lever 33 being downwardly and outwardly inclined aifords' ample space be'- tween the lower end of the dog' or lever and the mattress-supporting frame for the insertion of the toe of the shoe of a person standing on thefloor, so as to enable the lever or dog to be forced outwardly and disengaged 'from the crossrod 21, therebyi'trip ping the catch dog or lever and allowing the side frame to be lowered'by gravity.

It will be observed that by providing a catch dog or lever which can be tripped'by the foot of theA operator, both hands are left free to care for the child in the crib.

From the above description. `it will be observed that when the crib is in use, the movableside member (Z vis locked-in its elevated position land is connected with 'the head and foot frames to forma side member having a practically fixed relation-thereto. VVhen'the crib is in use, the side frame dis capable/oic beinglowered-as above described. When the cribis not in use, itcan be folded up `into a ysmall compass and into substa`ntially the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. which is accomplished by the operator vlifting the 'side frame (l `suiificiently 'to disen` gage the eye bolts 27 from th'e guide rods'28, which places the' said side frame inV condition to be folded over upon the mattress 40 upon the mattress supporting frame e, which latter is thenturned on litspivots 41 (see F ig. 4), into a vertical-position substantially parallel with the stationary `side `frame c, after which the members 12, 15, of the head and foot Atrames are Jfolded toward each other and into a'positioli-substantiallyparallel with the stationary side frame c (see Fig. l).

By reference to Figs. 4f and 5, it will be observed that -the 7crib can be placed in a practically permanent position in a room, especially one lof small size, withits 'r'ear side c againstthe wall of the room, and can be manipulated from its front side.

Itis preferred to have theside frame c v oted 'together at one `end and having `their opposite ends vpivoteel to `the movable @meme bers 12, 15, and to necting the stationary members and foot frames.

The mattress-supporting framey e when in its horizontal or operative position, may have its front end supported by brackets 46 attached to the movable members 12, 15, of the head and foot frames.

The bar 45 may also be connected with thc stationary members 10, 14, of the head and foot frames by bars 47, which form corner braces and assist in stiffening the frame of the crib.

The levers 43, 44, are arranged so as to have their opening movement limited, which may be ei'ected by a stop 48 on one lever engaging the back of the other lever, so as to prevent the members 12, 15, from being moved beyond the proper position when turned outwardly.

I have herein shown one embodiment of the invention, but it is not desired to limit the invention to the particular construction shown.

Claims.

l. In a crib in combination, head and foot frames provided with stationary and movable members, a side frame secured to the stationary members of said head and foot frames, a mattress-supporting frame located between said head and foot frames and pivoted to be turned into a position substantially parallel with said side frame, a side frame connected with said mattress-supporting frame to be movable bodily with relation thereto in a substantially vertical plane and to be turned over thereon to move therewith, a locking device for said movable side frame Ito sustain it in its elevated'position, and means for connecting said movable side frame with the movable members of said head and foot frames.

2. In a crib, in combination, a mattresssupporting frame, devices having a ixed relation to said mattress-supporting frame, and a side frame pivotally connected with said devices to be turned over upon the mattress-supporting frame and bodily movable with relation to said devices and the mattress-supporting frame in a plane substantially at right angles to the latter.

3. In a crib, in combination, a mattressa stationary bar 45 conof the head ve cents each,

supporting frame pivoted to be turned from a substantially horizontal plane into a substantially vertical plane, devices having a ixed relation to said mattress-supporting frame, and a side frame pivotally connected with said devices to be turned over upon the mattress-supporting 'frame and bodily movable with relation to said devices and the mattress-supporting frame in a plane substantially at right angles to the latter.

4. In a crib, in combination, head and foot frames provided with stationary and movable members, a side frame secured to the stationary members of said head and foot frames, a mattress-supporting frame located between said head and foot frames and pivoted to be turned into a position substantially parallel with said side frame, devices having a fixed relation to said mattress-supporting frame, a side frame pivotally connected with said devices to be turned over upon the mattress-supporting frame and bodily movable with relation to said devices and said mattress-supporting frame in a substantially vertical plane, means on the movable members of said head and foot frames for guiding said side frame in its vertical movement, and a locking device for said movable side frame to sustain it in its elevated position.

5. In a crib, in combination, head and foot frames provided with stationary and with movable members, side frames connecting said head and foot frames, a bar connecting said stationary members, and jointed braces pivoted together and to said movable members and said bar.

6. In a crib, in combination, head and foot frames, a mattress-supporting frame between said head and foot frames, devices having a iXed relation to said mattress-supporting frame, a side frame bodily movable in a substantially vertical plane with relation to said mattress-supporting frame and pivoted to said devices to bc turned into a position substantially parallel thereto, and means for connecting said side frame with said head and foot frames.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ARTHUR F. BENT.

by addrening the Commissioner of Patenti,

Washington, D. 6. 

